Hey y’all: We need to Love Each Other More. Kind of a departure from my typical Travel Blog post, I realize, but still….in the midst of the travel, and the wonderful food, and the exotic places…if we can’t Love Each Other More, and if our kids can’t learn to love themselves and others more, then those experiences are a lot less satisfying and meaningful, right? A fearless champion of that belief is my long-time friend, Eddie Coker. He’s working on something big…The Wezmore Project….you are gonna want to be a part of this!!!!
I met Eddie Coker in the early 1980’s….he was a volunteer with my church youth department, and I thought he was fantastically hilarious. Big personality, big heart, big VOICE! So big, he earned a spot in the Southern Methodist University School of Fine Arts, studying the art of Opera. After graduation, he travelled for more than twelve years throughout Belgium, Holland, England…really, all over the world, performing in operas. Eventually, desiring a less transient life, he married, settled down in Colorado, and started a family.
But, how could Eddie continue to use his spectacular voice outside of the opera world…..well, how about performing for children? Families all over Texas have fond memories of crazy fun and funny Eddie Coker concerts. His songs? There’s over 100 and six albums….Y’all….totally cool, and at fifty years old I still can’t wipe the big grin off my face when I hear “The Happy One” or “The Woo Woo Dance.” Eddie Coker’s gift to channel crazy characters, sing in a million different voices, don the cookiest costumes, all to grab the attention of children and sing with them about meaningful life truths….that’s something to see!
Going beyond simple entertainment, the work Eddie and his team are doing has a much deeper and more significant purpose. Take a moment to watch his video “Dear Everybody.”
Y’all…our kids are really hurting. There’s so much on the news these days illustrating that statement. Quoting the Wezmore Project web site:
- APPROXIMATELY 157,000 YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 24 RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES AT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE U.S.
- SUICIDE IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 24 AND IT RESULTS IN APPROXIMATELY 4600 LIVES LOST EACH YEAR.
- 17% OF AMERICAN STUDENTS REPORT BEING BULLIED 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH OR MORE WITHIN A SCHOOL SEMESTER. THIS NUMBER CLIMBS TO 43% IN THE TEEN YEARS, IN THE FORM OF CYBERBULLYING.
- IT’S ESTIMATED THAT 1 OUT OF 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BULLIES WILL HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD BY THE TIME THEY ARE 30.
The Wezmore Project is a Texas-based 501 (c) 3, focusing on teaching children, teens, families and educators about emotional wholeness and emotional intelligence. Eddie Coker harnesses his unique ability to combine entertainment and education – with a purposed set of messages – encouraging greater self-valuing, and a deeper understanding of our shared struggles as human beings.
The Wezmore Project offers concerts and workshops for kids that are fun and highly interactive. Students hear powerful messages of love, respect of self and others, and the importance of feelings, all while dancing and singing along with Eddie Coker.
How can you be a part of this simple….yet potentially profoundly impactful Wezmore Project? Click on this link to learn more. It’s a non-profit y’all….so make a donation! Let’s make sure thousands kids can hear the Wezmore Project message!
Are you an educator? Talk to your administration or your PTA/PTO….get Eddie Coker to your campus as fast a possible. Limited funds for this kind of programming….reach out anyway! That’s what the donations are needed for….helping to underwrite the cost of concerts for those who have limited ability to pay.
And…Eddie travels ALL OVER THE COUNTRY…so not just us Texans can benefit from The Wezmore Project.
Are you on social media???? Share The Wezmore Project with your circles! Greater awareness = greater impact!
Let’s saturate the universe with positive, meaningful, connection rich messages…especially to our children!
WITH LOVE AT EVERY STEP – AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN!
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